Are these lists based on any kind of merit? In the past few years, I’ve been to 2 orthopedists and a urologist. Each of their offices have several plaques that show that they’re one of the top doctors in NJ or the NY-area or the east coast. Am I just really lucky that I get such great medical care or is every doctor on one of these lists?
There are semi-pseudo bona fide contests to determine best doctors and hospitals, but the majority seem to be popularity contests where getting out the vote matters more than real competence.
There are also come-ons you get in the mail announcing that a Who’s Who or Best Of organization has recognized you as a Top Doctor, and if you send them $100 or $200 you’ll get a plaque acknowledging your great achievements (which you can hang in your office to impress the gullible).
What really counts are good outcomes for the conditions that bring you to the doctor or hospital, and there are few if any plaques for those.